Hospital Radio Colchester has been providing special Radio programmes to Patients in Colchester and surrounding areas since December 1963 when HRC was officially launched.
In fact it was during January/February in 1953 that programmes were first broadcast to hospitals in the Colchester area. These took the form of commentaries of home football matches from the Layer Road football ground of Colchester United. These commentaries were broadcast to 2 hospitals in Colchester and across to Black Notley. During half time and after the game, comments were given on the match and the style of football played.
In fact it was during January/February in 1953 that programmes were first broadcast to hospitals in the Colchester area. These took the form of commentaries of home football matches from the Layer Road football ground of Colchester United. These commentaries were broadcast to 2 hospitals in Colchester and across to Black Notley. During half time and after the game, comments were given on the match and the style of football played.
It was not until the early 60's that the necessity of music programmes was recognised. An entertainment's committee made up of the football supporters, Colchester Community Fund and King Coel's Kittens was formed, with the object of developing a Hospital Broadcasting Service. Although football commentaries were extremely popular in the early days, patients were demanding music at half time, and after the match instead of soccer comments. In fact these demands formed the first record request programmes.
So in December 1963 with 2 record turntables, a tape recorder and microphone on a table, Colchester's "Hospital Broadcasting Service" was launched, providing music, local information and requests to patients in Colchester and Black Notley hospitals. Dick Joyce of Anglia Television officially opened the station, which was based in the supporter's clubroom at Layer Road. and the broadcasts, known as HBS (Hospital Broadcasting Service), came from the supporter's clubroom at Layer Road Colchester and were combined with commentary of the home football matches.
But the demands on local hospital broadcasting increased the need for independence, as friendly and amateur matches prevented the hospital broadcasters from regular music programmes at Layer Road. Late in 1965 rooms were found above 125 High Street, Colchester, and the broadcasters set themselves with a new objective - local radio from the town centre. 3 large and 1 small room were converted to a sound control room and studio, a record library, tea bar and lounge, and with an annual rental of £250 a year, life seemed plain sailing for the Hospital Radio broadcasters in Colchester. With a boom in pirate radio, and the likelihood of licensed local radio stations, the Hospital Broadcasting Service changed it's name and became "Radio Colchester", providing programmes 6 days a week with Tuesdays set aside for maintenance of equipment.
But 8 years on there were to be stormy times ahead. During these 8 years however, broadcast times were increased and regular "live" outside broadcasts from locations such as Castle Park and the Tattoo, the cricket ground, The Moot Hall, Repertory Theatre (and in more recent years, the Mercury) became a regular part of the programming.
During this time some nine hospitals became linked to the network - six in Colchester: - Essex County Hospital, Maternity Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital, Myland Hospital, Severals Hospital, The Military Hospital - and Three in Braintree - St Michael's Hospital, William Julian Courtauld Hospital and of course Black Notley which had been connected from the very start.
So in December 1963 with 2 record turntables, a tape recorder and microphone on a table, Colchester's "Hospital Broadcasting Service" was launched, providing music, local information and requests to patients in Colchester and Black Notley hospitals. Dick Joyce of Anglia Television officially opened the station, which was based in the supporter's clubroom at Layer Road. and the broadcasts, known as HBS (Hospital Broadcasting Service), came from the supporter's clubroom at Layer Road Colchester and were combined with commentary of the home football matches.
But the demands on local hospital broadcasting increased the need for independence, as friendly and amateur matches prevented the hospital broadcasters from regular music programmes at Layer Road. Late in 1965 rooms were found above 125 High Street, Colchester, and the broadcasters set themselves with a new objective - local radio from the town centre. 3 large and 1 small room were converted to a sound control room and studio, a record library, tea bar and lounge, and with an annual rental of £250 a year, life seemed plain sailing for the Hospital Radio broadcasters in Colchester. With a boom in pirate radio, and the likelihood of licensed local radio stations, the Hospital Broadcasting Service changed it's name and became "Radio Colchester", providing programmes 6 days a week with Tuesdays set aside for maintenance of equipment.
But 8 years on there were to be stormy times ahead. During these 8 years however, broadcast times were increased and regular "live" outside broadcasts from locations such as Castle Park and the Tattoo, the cricket ground, The Moot Hall, Repertory Theatre (and in more recent years, the Mercury) became a regular part of the programming.
During this time some nine hospitals became linked to the network - six in Colchester: - Essex County Hospital, Maternity Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital, Myland Hospital, Severals Hospital, The Military Hospital - and Three in Braintree - St Michael's Hospital, William Julian Courtauld Hospital and of course Black Notley which had been connected from the very start.
In the early 70's the major problems began. First of all Colchester's Military hospital closed, due to government cuts - so there were only 8 hospitals on the network. Then the status of Braintree hospitals changed to that of geriatric, and the Chelmsford Hospital Administration gave 2 years notice of terminating the hospital broadcasting service, as they were paying some £300 a year for the line connection. But worst of all came the property boom when the then landlord demanded £900 a year for rental of our accommodation, so in 1974 the broadcasters began the search for smaller and cheaper premises.
Eventually dressing rooms were found at the former Odeon Cinema in Crouch Street. The building having been converted to a 3-screen cinema did not require the rooms, as live theatre had finished a few years earlier. For £500 a year the complete west wing of the building, comprising of 3 rooms and 2 cloakrooms, became our new headquarters.
So in November 1975 the new studios officially opened with a new station identification - HRC - Hospital Radio Colchester. It was thought that the town would never have a local radio station of it's own, with Ipswich and Chelmsford being the designated areas, and Colchester in the middle. But there were other reasons for the name change. It gave a more charitable status to the organisation, especially during an inflationary period.
Tuesday nights opened up for broadcasting with a brand new team and HRC boasted seven days a week on the air. But in the late 70's the Braintree hospitals disappeared, and the service was down to 6 hospitals - 5 hospitals in Colchester and the long distance remoteness of Black Notley some 15 miles away. Other cuts came too - the live facilities of the Mercury, Moot Hall, Tattoo and St. Botolphs Church were lopped off, costing far too much in a time when nearly £2000 had to be budgeted for line rental.
During the late 70's and 80's the numbers of hospitals receiving our service fell. The connection to the Great Notley hospital was cut, due to increasing costs, and with the closure of other hospitals in Colchester by the early 90's HRC was broadcasting to just two hospitals, Essex County and the new Colchester General hospital in Turner Road.
So in November 1975 the new studios officially opened with a new station identification - HRC - Hospital Radio Colchester. It was thought that the town would never have a local radio station of it's own, with Ipswich and Chelmsford being the designated areas, and Colchester in the middle. But there were other reasons for the name change. It gave a more charitable status to the organisation, especially during an inflationary period.
Tuesday nights opened up for broadcasting with a brand new team and HRC boasted seven days a week on the air. But in the late 70's the Braintree hospitals disappeared, and the service was down to 6 hospitals - 5 hospitals in Colchester and the long distance remoteness of Black Notley some 15 miles away. Other cuts came too - the live facilities of the Mercury, Moot Hall, Tattoo and St. Botolphs Church were lopped off, costing far too much in a time when nearly £2000 had to be budgeted for line rental.
During the late 70's and 80's the numbers of hospitals receiving our service fell. The connection to the Great Notley hospital was cut, due to increasing costs, and with the closure of other hospitals in Colchester by the early 90's HRC was broadcasting to just two hospitals, Essex County and the new Colchester General hospital in Turner Road.
In August 1990 HRC again had to move premises when the Odeon opened up a fourth screen, and took temporary accommodation again at Layer Road, thanks to Colchester United Football Supporters Club. After publicity in the local press new premises were offered at the newly refurbished Wilson Marriage Centre, formerly the old Wilson Marriage School in Barrack Street, which had been badly damaged by fire and had now been converted into a Community Centre.
The conversion of a classroom took a great deal of time, effort and money, and was supported by several local companies. HRC finally moved into their new home in March 1991. In 1999, with the help of a National Lottery grant from the Arts Council our accommodation underwent further major changes with upgraded studios and new equipment to ensure our future into the 21st century.
2003 was a special year for Hospital Radio Colchester with 2 major milestones in our history. First, was the celebration of our 40th Birthday. The highlight of the year was a reception at Colchester Town Hall hosted by the Mayor of Colchester. Our founder Chairman, Keith Southern, travelled from New Zealand to join us and we enjoyed meeting up with members past and present for an enjoyable evening of nostalgia and looking forward to the exciting future of the service. Eric Southernwood and his granddaughter, Clare Cranfield, who is following in his footsteps, cut an anniversary cake. Secondly we saw the introduction of the new distribution system at the Colchester General Hospital. The new 'Patientline' system ensures that HRC is available in high quality at all beds. With the introduction of the improved system it also bought patients their very own bedside entertainment unit with TV and phone as well as radio with an increased choice of entertainment. With this change HRC put extra focus on ensuring we provided a unique service that patients would enjoy. We also introduced the facility for listeners to call us free through a *800 service.
In 2005 HRC updated the way we transmit our programmes to the hospitals, introduced a 24-hour broadcasting schedule, made greater use of computer technology to aid our broadcasts and put extra emphasis on ensuring we regularly visit every ward.
2006 saw the plans for the move of our studio to the hospital site advance to detailed stages - only to be thwarted by the cancellation of the PFI project at the hospital which sadly also cancelled the planned move.
The future holds another search for new premesis - the Wilson Marriage Centre is being changed to an Adult Education Centre and our studio space will be need to be converted back to a classroom!
2003 was a special year for Hospital Radio Colchester with 2 major milestones in our history. First, was the celebration of our 40th Birthday. The highlight of the year was a reception at Colchester Town Hall hosted by the Mayor of Colchester. Our founder Chairman, Keith Southern, travelled from New Zealand to join us and we enjoyed meeting up with members past and present for an enjoyable evening of nostalgia and looking forward to the exciting future of the service. Eric Southernwood and his granddaughter, Clare Cranfield, who is following in his footsteps, cut an anniversary cake. Secondly we saw the introduction of the new distribution system at the Colchester General Hospital. The new 'Patientline' system ensures that HRC is available in high quality at all beds. With the introduction of the improved system it also bought patients their very own bedside entertainment unit with TV and phone as well as radio with an increased choice of entertainment. With this change HRC put extra focus on ensuring we provided a unique service that patients would enjoy. We also introduced the facility for listeners to call us free through a *800 service.
In 2005 HRC updated the way we transmit our programmes to the hospitals, introduced a 24-hour broadcasting schedule, made greater use of computer technology to aid our broadcasts and put extra emphasis on ensuring we regularly visit every ward.
2006 saw the plans for the move of our studio to the hospital site advance to detailed stages - only to be thwarted by the cancellation of the PFI project at the hospital which sadly also cancelled the planned move.
The future holds another search for new premesis - the Wilson Marriage Centre is being changed to an Adult Education Centre and our studio space will be need to be converted back to a classroom!
© Hospital Radio Colchester 2012
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